Ivey made his major league debut against the Texas Rangers with a thrilling right elbow. The pain has been constant since 2019. He doubts he throws again this season. Doctors are still working to make an exact diagnosis, but any operation seems “very possible,” Ivey said.

Ivey was examined by a host of medics in Dallas. Famed orthopedic surgeon Keith Meister, the team doctor for the Texas Rangers, told Ivey that his ulnar collateral ligament was “thick and sturdy.”

Doctors haven’t ruled out thoracic outlet syndrome, Ivey said. A visit to a nerve specialist revealed more disturbing news.

“Apparently I have the nerve endings of a 75-year-old man in my elbow,” Ivey said. “That probably explains a lot of things.”

Ivey suffered grade one strain on his ulnar collateral ligament in 2019. The pain has not gone away since. The Astros added him to their 40-man roster last December, putting Ivey on the precipice of his major-league debut. He hid his discomfort throughout spring training and after his first two minor league appearances.

Ivey is far from the first rookie to stay silent or play despite an injury. Reliever Blake Taylor did it last year and had some regrets. Ivey didn’t. The Astros allowed him to fulfill his lifelong dream 30 minutes from his hometown. How to decline the opportunity?

“I didn’t want to say anything to the Astros,” Ivey said. “I wanted to make my debut first. I knew it would be a good start and that I would have an option down immediately, so I figured I would see how long I could fit into that start. I can’t sit there and be like ‘Oh, I can’t throw in Arlington, my arm hurts, sorry.’ “

Ivey’s four-seam fastball only averaged just 90 mph in his major league debut. In the minor leagues, He hovered around 92-93. He couldn’t turn or control any of his breaking throws. His command eluded him throughout spring training and in two minor league appearances. Somehow, he threw 55 of his 70 shots for a 4 ⅔ innings catches against the Rangers on May 21.

Ivey took out the first seven Rangers he faced, struck out four on strikes and walked one. He left the mound with a broad smile. His father, Jon, has become a cult Houston hero with his in-game reactions. Friends from across the state flocked to see boy Rowlett begin his journey to the big leagues so close to home. For Ivey, it was like the end.

“I knew I had been injured the longest,” Ivey said. “I felt like I had run a really long marathon and I was at the end of it. At this point, I knew you probably needed to say something about your arm just because nothing was working. As for my mood, I needed a break. I really needed to breathe.

“I would say it’s like an eight out of 10 pain when I throw. And it didn’t improve no matter what we did.

The Astros proposed Ivey to the AAA Sugar Land class moments after his debut ended. Major league rules give an option player three days before he or she is required to report to the minor league affiliate. Ivey still hasn’t reported. He said he suffered a “family tragedy” on the third day.

The grief worsened with her persistent, untreated elbow pain. In the days since his debut, Ivey wondered if he should even pursue his career. When asked if he wanted to continue playing baseball, Ivey replied “at the time, I didn’t know.”

“I was so emotionally drained,” said Ivey, “but I had time to decompress and think a lot, but I still want to play. I still love the game.

After all his emotions poured out, Ivey left the shower and dried his eyes. Her family went to Whataburger for a late night fix. Ivey munched on a double-meat Whataburger with extra cheese and ketchup, savoring the last moments of the day he dreamed of reaching.

“I went into this year and like I said, (the pain) hadn’t gone away, but I didn’t want to say anything because I was so close,” Ivey said. “Fortunately, I couldn’t have written it better in a book if I had wanted to, how it ended.”